Equality evidence strategy 2023-2025: interim review

5. Other Equality Data Improvement Work

As part of this review, we also asked lead analysts to provide information on any additional equality data improvement work happening with their area that would not have been captured in the original 2021 data audit when the Strategy was first created. It is important to note that this chapter provides examples of additional equality data activity outside of the Strategy and EDIP, but is not intended to be a comprehensive audit.

Social Security Scotland – Ethnic Minority Approval Rates

Following the annual publication of Social Security Scotland Client Diversity and Equalities data in 2023, the team reported that differences were identified in approval rates for ethnic minority groups. In response, the former First Minister committed “to ensuring Social Security Scotland delve into these figures and understand the rationale as to why ethnic minorities are less likely to be approved for social security compared to their white counterparts.” From engagement with stakeholders, it was understood that language barriers may play a part in these differences. Social Security Scotland have recently completed a research project to learn more about the experiences and extra challenges faced by people who speak English as a Second Language and will use this learning to improve communication and support their clients. The team are also working to improve the quality of their equalities data collection including production of intersectional tables by the end of 2025.

Social Security Scotland – Equalities and Inclusive Communication Strategy

Work is also currently underway within Social Security Scotland to review equality outcomes and revise their equalities strategy. This strategy will consider how the organisation and wider system can improve the whole client journey experience for all existing and potential clients from diverse backgrounds. Part of this work has also explored and identified the various operational and technical complexities and limitations regarding equalities data collection and analysis. Social Security Scotland is working to address these challenges to find practical data improvement solutions that will enable them to take better, targeted action in support of Scotland’s diverse communities.

Rural & Environmental Sciences & Analytical Services (RESAS)

To improve the equality evidence of the agricultural sector, RESAS carried out an equalities data mapping exercise in summer 2024. This exercise identified a lack of data on the majority of protected characteristics. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement revealed that there is a need for equalities data for policy development and impact assessments. Various options for data improvement have been identified and RESAS is currently exploring options for taking this forward. It should be noted that this work is in addition to Action 42, which is to replace the June Agricultural Census and improve equality data within reporting linked to this.

Equality Analysis

There are now new commitments to improve equality data and intersectional breakdowns in new and upcoming action plans including:

• Improving the Lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers 2: action plan 2024-2026
• Disability Equality Plan (upcoming). The Scottish Government’s commitment to develop a disability equality plan was made in response to the huge challenges disabled people are currently facing. This first plan will put in place the structures required to bring about meaningful, lasting change. It will embed disability competence throughout the Scottish Government so at every level of decision making, the needs of disabled people are increasingly considered, understood, and addressed.
• Equally Safe Delivery Plan: Equally Safe: delivery plan - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). The Equally Safe delivery plan contains the key deliverables and actions that will enable prevention and eradication of violence against women and girls and the underlying attitudes and systems that perpetuate it.

Fiscal Sustainability

The Scottish Exchequer and the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser are continuing a long-running programme of work to improve the equality evidence that informs decision at fiscal events, such as the annual Budget. This includes work to develop the Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement and the publication of distributional analysis on tax and social security measures. It has also included recent work with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to conduct two internal pilot projects that considered how Gender Budgeting could be incorporated within the Scottish Government. The evaluation of these pilots was published alongside the 2025-26 Budget.

Health and Social Care

Scotland’s Cancer Strategy (2023 to 2033) has 11 Ambitions, including a cross-cutting ambition, ‘Tackling Inequalities’. The first Cancer Action Plan Progress Report, published in June 2024, reports on two planned pieces of work relating to this ambition:

a. Commissioning work to evaluate how cancer treatment is accessed and experienced by people in some of the groups targeted for early action in the strategy: people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland, and people living in rural areas of Scotland.

b. Undertaking an evidence review to understand racialised health inequalities as they relate to cancer.